Michigan lawmakers approve right-to-work bills

LANSING, Mich. — As the chants of angry protesters filled the Capitol, Michigan lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to right-to-work legislation, dealing a devastating and once-unthinkable defeat to organized labor in a state that has been a cradle of the movement for generations.

The Republican-dominated House ignored Democrats' pleas to delay the passage and instead approved two bills with the same ruthless efficiency as the Senate showed last week. One measure dealt with private sector workers, the other with government employees. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed them within hours.

After the vote, he said, Michigan's future "has never been brighter, because workers are free."

Once the laws are enacted, the state where the United Auto Workers was founded and labor has long been a political titan will join 23 others with right-to-work laws, which ban requirements that nonunion employees pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services.

Supporters say the laws give workers more choice and support economic growth, but critics insist the real intent is to weaken organized labor by encouraging workers to "freeload" by withholding money unions need to bargain effectively with management.

Protesters in the gallery chanted "Shame on you!" as the measures were approved. Union backers clogged the hallways and grounds shouting "No justice, no peace," and Democrats warned that hard feelings from the legislation and Republicans' refusal to hold committee hearings or allow a statewide referendum would be long lasting.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and other Democrats in the state's congressional delegation met with Snyder on Monday and urged him to slow things down.

"For millions of Michigan workers, this is no ordinary debate," Levin said. "It's an assault on their right to have their elected bargaining agent negotiate their pay, benefits and working conditions, and to have all who benefit from such negotiations share in some way in the cost of obtaining them."

Although impassioned, the crowds were considerably smaller than those drawn by right-to-work legislation in Indiana earlier this year and in Wisconsin in 2011, during consideration of a law curtailing collective bargaining rights for most state employees. Those measures provoked weeks of intense debate, with Democrats boycotting sessions to delay action and tens of thousands of activists occupying statehouses.

Readers' Comments (21)

Nice to see the Unions sticking up for freedom once again. Funny, the liberals are all about freedoms (smoke dope, marry who you want, etc) but they are the first to protest and say that a worker cannot exercise freedom and MUST pay into the union fund in order to work.

I am so sick of all the ranting and raving about "driving down wages" and back to deplorable working conditions and teachers lying so they can get out of their classrooms to protest. The unions and the dems brought on this battle. They tried to push thru a proposition that would make collective bargaining "untouchable" for ever. Republicans and anyone with a brain pushed back. And listen genius's, right to work does not take away collective bargaining rights. If the unions are so good for their workers, then I'm sure the laborers and teachers in these public unions will continue to pay union dues and happily be a part of these union organizations. Right????

When obama whines and rants and raves about people politicizing this issue, I actually agree with him. But it's the dems who politicize so they can keep the unions as a part of their base in their pocket. Dems and public unions scratch each others back to the detriment of the country as they add to the fiscal cliff.

This policy of the Republicans is going to set the GOP back in the Midwest & the Mid Atlantic for decades to come. Gov. Rick Snyder has sealed the fate of the GOP to be the Party of losers. Watch what happens to Republican Governor Tom Corbett in 2014 and you will get a preview of things to come.

President Obama is supporting his “Labor Union” leaders who are directing many members of their “corrupt” organizations to become physical “thugs”.

Many “Labor Union” leaders support their membership even if the “employees” are under the influence of “alcohol”, “illegal drugs”, or any other “mind-bending substance”. “Labor Union” leaders support their leadership when they are literally “sleeping” on the job.

Many “Labor Union” leaders demand “working contracts” that make it almost impossible for “employers” to successfully “discharge an employee” as listed above.

I just saw a news clip of union thugs assaulting right to supporters and destroying their tents. I have to wonder if these are some of the same union supporters where so many called in sick, lame or lazy that several schools had to be closed. Meanwhile parents are having to scramble for day care. So much for putting the kids first. Meanwhile the Education Dept. just put out a study showing only 8% of elementary kids in Detroit are reading at grade level. The same study shows only 4% of the same kids are at grade level in math. Well done teachers!

Well, it's just a matter of time until the Communist/Democrat 'legislators' turn tail and run and hide in neighboring states. Isn't that how they try to get their way? Throw a juvenile tantrum until (sugar) daddy gives them what they're whining for?

And big business is perfect. They don't drink or smoke. They just continue to make more money off labor, while morons like you ok it. Problem is, we have an large amount of a broke 'working white class' that's too dumb to know what's good for them.

I am so sick of all the ranting and raving about "driving down wages" and back to deplorable working conditions and teachers lying so they can get out of their classrooms to protest. The unions and the dems brought on this battle. They tried to push thru a proposition that would make collective bargaining "untouchable" for ever. Republicans and anyone with a brain pushed back. And listen genius's, right to work does not take away collective bargaining rights. If the unions are so good for their workers, then I'm sure the laborers and teachers in these public unions will continue to pay union dues and happily be a part of these union organizations. Right????

When obama whines and rants and raves about people politicizing this issue, I actually agree with him. But it's the dems who politicize so they can keep the unions as a part of their base in their pocket. Dems and public unions scratch each others back to the detriment of the country as they add to the fiscal cliff.

"You know, if unions would just police their memberships and either counsel or correct those in their ranks who are lazy or dishonest, or terminate them, things would be very different.

Granted, I know some unions are very good, but I think it's in the minority. Frankly, I've only ever worked with one union who I was impressed with. Some boilermaker guys north of Albany NY. These guys worked hard. No sandbagging.

But instead, the lazy or worthless members of a union are protected by the union, thus giving the whole union a bad name.

Countless stories of unions tamping down those members who try to work hard or exceed expectations....

Years ago, I met a plant engineer from a sheet metal fab company in Indiana. Most of their orders were for trailer companies, and most orders were only coated on one side. So, the unions required (2) guys to man the coating operation on the night shift. So one guy would spray the coating while the other guy slept. Then, they got a big order that was going to break revenue expectations. Only think was the metal had to be coated on both sides. Sure enough, same gig...one guy coated while one guy slept and the order went out incorrect.

The two coating guys got three day suspensions, and as a result, the entire union did a three day slow down.

The company failed to make production goals and ALL employees lost their profit sharing for that year."

The simple fact is the RepubliCons did this bill in a rushed 6 hour period without a single committee hearing or meeting b/c they know it's unpopular with people. They held zero meetings that this bill was in the cue of bills in a lame duck session and announced it 11am and rushed it thru by 4 pm the same day b/c they know the people don't want the bill. They also did it after they losing seats in the house in 2012.

I've got a union withdrawel card and union pension (some day maybe, if the thugs don't steal\embezzle it I'll be able to benefit from it), but the union was nothing but a hindrance to me. I just wanted to work hard, earn an honest wage and get ahead.

Yes, the union was a hinderance shows you'er clueless and ungrateful Go compare your wages, benefits, vacation to thoise with the same job in a right to work state. Right to work state is the right to be poor state for the working class. Btw, you wouldn't have a pension in a right to work state b/c your emplyer would have never put it in your benefits package, the union you hate negotiated that for your ungrateful self.

The simple fact is the RepubliCons did this bill in a rushed 6 hour period without a single committee hearing or meeting b/c they know it's unpopular with people. They held zero meetings that this bill was in the cue of bills in a lame duck session and announced it 11am and rushed it thru by 4 pm the same day b/c they know the people don't want the bill. They also did it after they losing seats in the house in 2012.

__________________________________________

Sounds eerily familiar, but so what?

I guess no Dems had a chance to leave the state to avoid a quorum.

Perhaps they can try another recall election? Maybe Obama will show up this time. You know, now that the election is over.

we all know politics today is all about the money, so my question is, if republicans are successful at breaking the unions, who gets control of the billions in pension funds and how much control will they have. i'm betting this is part of the movement on labor.

"The simple fact is the RepubliCons did this bill in a rushed 6 hour period without a single committee hearing or meeting b/c they know it's unpopular with people. They held zero meetings that this bill was in the cue of bills in a lame duck session and announced it 11am and rushed it thru by 4 pm the same day b/c they know the people don't want the bill. They also did it after they losing seats in the house in 2012. "

So, in other words, schoup, the Republicans have taken a page out of the democRats play book! whoooo whoooo! Way to go Republicans